Airship frame



April 5, 1927. Y ARNsTE'iN 1,623,951

AIRSHIP Emu:

Filed March 21. 1923 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 4.

QJNIVENTOR: I

Aprll 5, 1927- K.- ARNSTEIN nasal? FRAME 3 Shani-Shoot 5 Filed March 21, 1923 Fig.3.

' JNVENTUR:

Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL an wsram or rammucnsnunn-on-rnn-aonnnsnn, GERMANY, assnmon TO THE rmar-"mrrrscnlrrnau ZEPPELIN GESELLSCHAFT MIT nnscnnimrrnfi. HAFTUNG, or FBIEDBICHSEAFEN-ON-THE-BODENSEE, enmumr.

amsmr rams.

lily invention has reference to novel-means for stiffening the hulls of airships, and it refers particularly to the s'tifi'ening of the annular frames forming part of the hulls of rigid airships.

In accordance with my invention provision is made to connect each of the corner points of these frames with all the other corner points thereof with the exce tion of those directly adjacent the particu ar corner point from which the tightening wires extend; and in the practice of my invention I preferably-proceed by connecting the corner points with all the other corners of the frame with the exception of two neighboring corner points on either side of the particular points in question.

' By this means a uniform and highly rcsistive tightening and stiffening of the different sections and of all the corner points is produced. The resultant of forces at the corner points bisects the angle formed at each particular corner point. In the case of a lateral straining of the wires in the frames caused by the gas pressure of the walls of the several cells all the corner oints will with this new method of stifienmg be uniformly strained and the frame is compressed substantially without deforma-' tion.

In view of the fact that, as shown in the preferred form of construction, I am enabled to dispense with four wires at each corner point, a great saving in wires is obtained combined with a maximum efliciency. The connection with the directly adjacent corner point may be dispensed with in view of the mutual stiffening of the frame sections. The stiffening connection with the next succeeding point is dispensed with, in accordance with my invention,'in view of the fact that this connection would result in a very unfavorable distribution of stresses on the frame due to the rather very slight inclinanected corners.

In the case of larger sized shi s some of the wires, for instance the ra a1 wires,

tion relatively to the-two intercepted frame.

826,709, and in Germany September 7, 1922.

should be duplicated on account of the large forces to be absorbed and because it is not feasible to exceed a certain thickness of the wire in view of the necessity of not inter fering with the making of-the wire loop. By my invention provision is made in this connection for avoiding the excessive formation of knots otherwlse produced by the superposition of the wiresin the center point, and in accordance with my invention connected to each other by a rigid framing,

the wires in accordance with this invention should be operatively connected to points of juncture of the framing, instead of extending from the corners of the frame. It is recommendable to arrange the wires in such a manner that the diametrical wires which extend from the upper points of juncture of the framing, are intersected before the discshaped guide.

My invention is more clearly set forth on the accompanyin drawings, on which three modifications em odying the principles of my invention are shown diagrammatically by way of example. In the.drawings' -"Figures 1, 2 and 3 are'representations of an annular frame with tlghtening wires in accordance with this invention and seen in the direction of the longitudinalaxisof the ship; I

Figure 1 showing the stiffening of a frame 'of comparatively simple construction as ordinarily employed for .ships of smallsize.

and seen at right angle to the plane of the frame, while Figures 2 and 3 illustrate on about the same scale the application of the new mode of tightening to frames as used for ships of larger size. a

- on each side.

In Figure 2 a frame construction is shown which is particularly adapted for use in connection with ships of larger size. Here Special trusses f are serving as elements which have an obtuse angle in their outer lines at 6, thereby increasing the number of circumferential corners; but only the main corners d are poi ts of juncture for the frames elements and therefore only these corners are braced by wires 0. Eight wires 0 70 extend from each of the main corner points d. Instead of but one diametrical wire two such wires c and c are employed which are guided over the disc 9 and are there deflected.

In Figure 3 a form of construction is shown in which the lower frame sections a, a, a, at, indicated in dotted lines, are replaced b a large continuous frame element 7).. ere, in addition to the wires that connect the various points of juncture as explained. above there are wires G-C which connect the middle portion of the frame ele@ ment h to various points of juncture distanced from the ends of frame element It by more than one juncture oint. These wires are one half fastened at t e point i and are half fastened at the point It, but if the portion of element h which includes points i and k be considered as a unit it will be seen that this portion is connected to various 'uncture points in the same way as would the case if this portion of frame member h were itself a juncture point to the framing it at the points of juncture i. and k. The diametrical wires 0* in this case'are crossed before reaching the guide disc 9.

While I have shown upon the accompanying diagrams the invention as applied to frames with an even number of sides, the

invention is not restricted thereto, but may be employed also in connection with frames of an odd number of sides in which the wires or'other cross stiffening members are only approximately diametrical. It is obvious, moreover, that the invention is capable of various other modifications and alterations to suit varying conditions of use and within the scope of the claims as hereunto appended.

I claim:

1. A rigid airship hull, comprising a Ion-- gitudinal member and a cross member, said cross member constituting .a substantiallyannular lpolygonal frame composed of ind1-' vidual e ements, joining in points of junctui'e, e h of said points of juncture being connected by tension members to every other 7 point of juncture within said frame distanced from the originating point by more than two of such oints of juncture.

2. A rigid airshlp hull, comprising a longitudinal member and a cross member, said cross member constituting a substantially annular polygonal frame composed of individual elements joining in points of 'uncture, each of said points of juncture eing connected by tension members to every other point of juncture within said frame distanced from the originating point by more than two of such points of juncture, said tension members being arranged in pairs where they connect points of juncture situated substantially diametrically opposite to each other.

3. A rigid airship hull, comprising a longitudinal member and a cross member. said cross member constituting a substantially annular polygonal frame composed of individual elements joining in points of juncture, each of-said points of juncture being connected by, tension members to every other point of *juncture within said frame distanced from the originating point over more than two'of such points of juncture, said tension members being arranged in pairs where they connect points of juncture situated substantially diametrically opposite to each other, and a central guide member between each of the two tension members constituting a pair of tension members.

4. A rigid airship hull, comprising a longitudinal member and a cross member, said cross member constituting a substantially annular polygonal frame composed of individual elements joining in points of juncture, each of said points of juncture being connected by tension members to every other vpoint of juncture within said frame distanced from the originating point over more than'two of such points of juncture,

said tension members being arranged in pairs where they connect points of juncture situated substantially diametrically opposite to each other, and a guide-ring between each of the two tension members constitutmg a pair of tension members.

5. A rigid airship hull, comprising a longitudinal member and a cross member, said cross member constituting a substantially annular polygonal frame composed of individual elements joining in points'of juncture, each of said points of juncture being connected by tension members to every point of juncture within said frame distanced from the originating point over more than two of such points of juncture,'one of said elements extendin over a larger tor of saidpolyg'onal ame than the other elements, a portion of said larger element intermediateits ends being likewise connected by tension members to said points of tension members being-arrange juncture distaneed' fronrthe' ends ofsaid element by more than one juncture oint, said in pairs where they connect rtions situated substantially diametrica y opposite to each other.

6. A rigid airship hull, comprising a longitudinal member and a cross member, said cross. member constituting a substantially annular polygonal frame composed of in-- dividual elements joining in points of juncture, each of said points of juncture being connected by tension members to every other point of juncture within said frame dis- 'tanced from the originating point over more than two of such points of juncture, one of said elements extending over a larger sector of said polygonal frame than the other elements, a portion of said longer element in termediate its ends' likewise connected by tension members to all said points of juncture distanced from the. end of said element by more than one juncture point, said tension members beingarranged in pairs where they connect portions situated substantially diametrically opposite to each other, and a central guide member between each of the two tension members constituting a pair of tension members.

7 A rigid airship hull, comprising a lonof said polygonal frame than the-other elements, at rtion of saidlonger element intermediate its ends likewise connected by tension members to all said points of juncture distanced from the end of said element by more than one juncture point, said tension members being arranged in pairs where they,

connect portions situated substantially diav metrically opposite to each other, and a central guide member between each of the two tension members constituting a pair of tension members, the v tension members co'nstituting that pair which connects'a .portion 7 of the said longer element with a point substantially diametrically opposite being ar-,

ranged to intersect each other at a point 'between said element.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' KARL ARNSTEIN.

guide member and said larger 

